Universal power conversion methods with disconnect after driving

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9130461-B2
Application number	US-201313859265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2013
Priority date	Jun 6, 2006
Publication date	Sep 8, 2015
Grant date	Sep 8, 2015

Abstract

Methods and systems for transforming electric power between two or more portals. Any or all portals can be DC, single phase AC, or multi-phase AC. Conversion is accomplished by a plurality of bi-directional conducting and blocking semiconductor switches which alternately connect an inductor and parallel capacitor between said portals, such that energy is transferred into the inductor from one or more input portals and/or phases, then the energy is transferred out of the inductor to one or more output portals and/or phases, with said parallel capacitor facilitating “soft” turn-off, and with any excess inductor energy being returned back to the input. Soft turn-on and reverse recovery is also facilitated. Said bi-directional switches allow for two power transfers per inductor/capacitor cycle, thereby maximizing inductor/capacitor utilization as well as providing for optimum converter operation with high input/output voltage ratios. Control means coordinate the switches to accomplish the desired power transfers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for power conversion, comprising the repeated sequential actions of:
a) applying voltage from a first external power connection, with a first polarity, to a parallel inductor/capacitor combination while said inductor/capacitor combination is disconnected from a second external power connection;
b) disconnecting said inductor/capacitor combination from both said first and second external power connections;
c) connecting said inductor/capacitor co…

Assignees

• Ideal Power Inc

Inventors

• Alexander William C

Classifications

• Y02B70/1441

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H02M5/293 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02M3/1582 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02M7/797

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H02M5/225 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic